Mining machine



April 14, 1925. 1,533,317

M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1921 1 In marl"?! 1 -11 Z $66077 cg.

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS P. HOLMES, 0F CLAREIVIONT. NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed October 22, 1921, Serial No. 509,695.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Monms P. HoLMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at ('laremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to mining machines. It has for its object to provide an im proved mining machine. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved .nining machine adapted to cut a kerf above the mine bottom, and more especially to provide an improved mining machine of this type which is adapted to slide on its own bottom over the mine bottom and to be used as either a room and pillar or a longwall machine. These and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

i In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mining machine equipped with my improvement, and operating in av narrow seam as aroom and pillar machine cutting out a band or the like. p

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my. improved construction showing the same operating as a longw all machine cutting in one direction, the longitudinaltransport position of the bar and the opposite lateral position of the latter when cutting in the opposite direction being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal partially sectional view of the front end of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In this illustrative construction I have shown a mining machine casing 1 slidable on its bottom 2, herein comprising a shoe, on the mine bottom and carrying a pivoted cutter bar 3, equipped with a usual cutter chain 4, the bar being carried on one end of the casing in an improved manner hereinafter described. As shown the machine is adapted to be propelled over the mine bottom and relative to a flexible feeding member 5, herein in the form of a feed chain, through the rotation of a feed operating member 6 nearer the-opposite end Renewed July 21, 1924.

of the casing from the cutter bar and herein in the form of a feed sprocket rotatable on a vertical axis, it being understood that the cutter chain and the feed sprocket are rotated from a suitable motor (not shown) in the machine casing. Herein also guiding means 7, 8 and 9 are preferably provided as shown at the end of the machine carrying the feed sprocket in order to cooperate With the feed chain when the machine is used as either a room and pillar or longwall machine, while a supplementary guide carryin; member 10 of the construction described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 347,571, filed Dec. 26, 1919 and carrying a rotatable guiding member 11 is removably attached tothe casing at either of a plurality of points adjacent the pivot of the bar and in a manner described in that application when the machine is uti lized as a room and pillar machine, the attaching means herein including a pin -12 which is receivable in lateral apertures 13, 14 in the head, generally indicated at 15, on the machine casing. In the present construction it will also be noted that the cutter bar 3 is located above an extension on the machine shoe 2 and in a plane substantially coincident with the top of the easing, the bar herein being pivotally mounted on a suitable journal 16 above a cutter chain driving sprocket 17 which drives the cutter chain 4 and above a usual train. of clutch connected gearing 18, 19 connected to said sprocket 17 and driven by bevels 20 and 21 from the motor, both the bar and the gearing herein being supported in castings 22 and 23, of which the casting 22 is removable while the casting 23 preferably is the main head casting, herein also supported on laterally spaced upstanding webs 23- on a projecting end of the shoe 2 in such a manner as to eliminate overhang and provide a well balanced and rigid bar support. Such an arrangement is not, however, broadly claimed herein, the same being described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 485,690, filed July 18, 1921.

In this construction, it will also be noted that a plate 24 is fixed to the member 22, in such a manner as to form a top plate disposed parallel to the bottom, and between which and the member 22 the bar and cutter chain are movable in a cuttings'chamber 25 open at both sides or at one side and at one'endidefpending on the" osi'tio-n of the bar. As shown, herein the bar is held in position by a two part pivotally connected bolt 26 of the construction described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 508,389, filed Oct. 17, 1921, extending through a bushing 27 and one of the apertures 13, let or an intermediate corresponding aperture 29 and a registcrable aperture 30 in the bar, the bolt 26 herein having its upper end threaded as at 31 and in any of its positions received in a corrc spondingly threaded socket in the plate 24., and having on its lower end a turning nut It will thus be observed that the bar 3 may be held either in the longitudinal position shown in Fig. 1 when used as a room and pillar machine and with the cooperating guide member 11 located in either of the lateral apertures 13, 14, depending on the direction of movement desired, or, when operating as a longwall machine, that the bar may be thus held in its longitudinal transport position shown in Fig. 2 or in either of the lateral positions illustrated in that figure, depending upon the direction of movement desired, the member 10 then being placed in an unused aperture or removed if desired.

As a result of my improved construction, it will be observed that it is possible to provide a machine utlizing a single top cutting bar and adapted with equal facility when operating to use as either a room and pillar or a longwall machine. It. will further be noted that in this construction this is made possible in a construction in which the draft acts adjacent to, and herein parallel to, the bottom of the machine and the mine bottom in the same plane irrespective of the type of cutting being done. Attention is here also directed to the fact that as a result of the construction shown,

I not only is the bar held securely in each position of adjustment but that the adjustments are easily made, the bolt 26 being readily removable downwardly without any necessity for digging in the roof, a feature of decided advantage in low vein work.

Further, due to the provision of the top plate 24, it will be observed that notonly is the cutter chain sprocket adequately protected, but a cuttings chamber is provided through which the cuttings will pass freely, the same falling out of the open side or sides or end thereof Without any tendency to pack or jam. Moreover, it Will be obvious that by the provision of the top plate 24 the machine runner is protected from liability to injury since the possibility of his becoming caught by the cutter chain is much reduced by the construction employed. Due to the extension of the shoe, it will also be noted that a long and stable bottom is provided, While Whenever it is desired to seat the casting 23 thereon, as herein, since any overhanging of the head is eliminated, a very rigid construction is produced.

While I have inthis application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same s shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine, mining mecha nism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom, a head carried on said casing and having superin'iposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber at its top, and a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mount-- ed in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to said bottom.

2. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom, a head carried on said casing and having superimposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber at its top, a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to said bottom, and means operatively engaging the surfaces of said head and with said bar for holding the latterin different angular positions relative to said head.

3. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom, a head carried on said casing and havin superimposed surfaces forming a horizont'a cuttings chamber at its top, a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to said bottom, andguiding means carried by said head and disposable at will at either side of said chamber.

4. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom, a head carried on said casing and having superimposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber at its top a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to said bottom, and means operatively engaging the surfaces of said head and with said bar for holding the latter in different angular positions relative to said head in a plane above said bottom.

5. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on a shoe on a mine bottom and having an extension of said shoe at one end thereof, a head overlying said extension and having superimposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber at its top, and a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to said shoe.

6. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on a shoe on a mine bottom and having an extension of said shoe at one end thereof, a head carried on said casing and seated on said extension and having superimposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber at its top, a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to said shoe, and guiding means carried by said head and disposable at either side of said chamber in a plane below the lower surface thereof.

7. In a mining machine, mining mech anism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom and having a head provided with radially located apertures. an apertured cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivoted on said head and having its aperture movable into registry with the apertures in said head, said bar being disposed in a plane substantially coinciding with the top of said casing and above the apertures in said head, and adjustable means receivable in the apertures in said head and bar for retaining said bar in different positions of adjustment, said means being removable upon a downward movement relative to said bar.

8. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom and having a head provided with radially located apertures, an apertured cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivoted on said head and having its aperture movable into registry with the apertures in said head, said bar being disposed in a plane substantially coinciding with the top of said casing and above the apertures in said head, a plate carried on said head above said bar, and adjustable Ineans receivable in the apertures in said head and bar and threaded into said plate for retaining said bar in different posi tions of adjustment.

9. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom and having a head provided with radially located apertures, an apertured cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivoted on said head and having its aperture movable into registry with the apertures in said head, said bar being disposed in a plane substantially coinciding with the top of said casing and above the apertures in said head, adjustable means receivable in the apertures in said head and bar for retaining said bar in different positions of adjustment, said means being removable upon a downward movement relative to said bar, and a guiding member car ried in one of the apertures in said head.

10. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom and having a head provided with radially located apertures, an apertured cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivoted on said head and having its aperture movable into registry with the apertures in said head. said bar being disposed in a plane substantially coinciding with the top of said casing and above the apertures in said head, adjustable means receivable in the apertures in said head and bar for retaining said bar in different positions of adjustment, said means being remow able upon a downward movement relative to said bar, and a guiding member carried in one of the apertures in said head and dis-.

posed adjacent the bottom of said casing.

11. In a mining machine. mining mechanism including a mining machine frame slidable upon a mine bottom and having a head provided with radially located apertures, an apertured cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivoted on said head and having its aperture movable into registry with the apertures in said head, said bar being disposed in a plane substantially coinciding with the top of said casing and above the apertures in said head, a plate carried on said head above said bar, and means receivable in the apertures in said head and bar and threaded into said plate for retaining said bar in different positions of adjustment and downwardly movable to effect release of said bar.

12. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a machine frame slidable over a mine bottom and provided at one end with a head having a plurality of arcuately disposed apertures therein, an apertured cutter bar pivoted on said head upon an axis passing through the center for said arc and having its aperture movable into registry with the apertures in the head, and means receivable in said apertures for holding said bar in different predetermined positions and movable downwardly to effect re lease of said bar.

13. In a mining machine, mining mechanism slidable on a mine bottom including a machine frame and a pivoted cutter chain carrying cutter bar lying in a plane adjacent the top of said frame, and a stationary cover plate carried by said frame and covering the rear end, of said pivoted cutter bar.

14. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a bottom engaging supporting surface slidable on a mine bottom and a parallel upper surface and a pivoted cutter chain carrying cutter bar parallel to said surfaces and adjacent said upper surface.

said upper surface extending forward from the bar pivot a distance greater than onehalf the Width of the orbit of the chain.

15. In a mining machine, mining mechanism slidable on a mine bottom including a machine frame, a pivoted cutter chain carrying cutter bar lying in a plane adjacent the top of said frame, a stationary cover plate carried by said frame and covering the pivoted end of said bar, and means in cluding an element forming an extension of the bottom of the machine frame supporting the bar pivot and forming a rigid supporting structure therefor.

16. In a mining machine mining mechanism slidable on a mine bottom including a machine frame, a pivoted cutter chain car ryiug cutter bar lying in a plane adjacent the top of said frame. a stationary cover plate carried by said frame and covering the .pivot of said bar, means including an element forming an extension of the bottom of the machine frame supporting the bar pivot and forming a rigid supporting structure therefor, and cutter chain driving mecha nism including cooperating driving gears each disposed above the machine bottom and below the plane of said bar.

17. In a mining machine, mining mecha nism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on the mine bottom, a head carried on said casing and having superimposed surfaces forn'iing a horizontal cuttings chamber at its top cutter chain driving mechanism including a driving sprocket which is located in said chamber, and a cutter chain carrying cutter bar rnvotally mounted in said chamber and disposed in a plane parallel to the machine bottom and having a journal above said sprocket.

18. In a mining machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom, a head carried on said casing having at its top superimposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber and at its bottom rigid supporting means including a member forming an extension of the casing bottom, and a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber on a pivot rigidly supported by said means, said bar being disposed in a plane parallel to the machine bottom.

19. In a mining, machine, mining mechanism including a mining machine casing slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom, a head carried on said casing having at its top superimposed surfaces forming a horizontal cuttings chamber and at its bottom rigid supporting means including a member forming an extension of the casing bottom, and cutter mechanism including a cutter chain carrying cutter bar pivotally mounted in said chamber on a pivot rigidly supported by said means, said bar being disposed in a plane parallel to the machine bottom, and chain driving mechanism including cooperating gears rotatable on longitudinally spaced vertical axes and each disposed above said member and below the bottom of said chamber.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

MORRIS l". 11011311 1?v 

